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8 Healthier Versions of Your Kids’ Favorite Foods

It's no secret that kids love foods that aren't exactly good for them. But the worst part is, these foods are also the easiest to make in a pinch when you're an on-the-go parent. If your child would starve without hot dogs and chicken nuggets, have no fear. You can let her eat her favorites and not worry so much about her health.

Hot Dogs

Unfortunately most hot dogs you find in the grocery store come packed with added nitrates which have been linked to certain cancers including leukemia. Luckily, there are other options out there.

Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dogs. These are a favorite in my house. No added nitrites or preservatives. No antibiotics, vegetarian grain-fed, and gluten, casein and filler free.

Trader Joe's All Natural Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs. These low fat dogs are made from breast and thigh meat without any mechanically separated meat, nitrites, nitrates, MSG, gluten or fillers.

Applegate Organic Chicken Strips. Casein free and dairy free, these strips are made from 100% certified organic chicken breast and thigh meat. They are free of fillers, binders and artificial ingredients.

Snack Foods

No home is complete without at least a few go-to snacks. While fruit is still the better choice, there's always a reason to indulge.

Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Everyone needs a cookie once in a while. Back to Nature cookies are free of hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial colors.

Kettle Brand Organic Potato Chips. Potatoes are one of the dirty dozen — the top 12 foods for pesticide residue. Go organic for your salty fix and you'll be riding your body of pesticides.

Stonyfield Organic Frozen Yogurt. It's not ice cream, but it might as well be. Stonyfield makes organic frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors plus in bars too. It's delicious, but the added bonus is that it's yogurt so it contains live active cultures.

It isn't always convenient to read labels, but it is important to the health of our families. It's good to know companies are starting to care about what we feed our kids, and it's great to know that my kids' favorite foods are safer to eat in moderation than ever before.